Music Review: U2 - Joshua Tree (Remastered and Expanded Deluxe Edition)

U2 are one of those bands. The world class, best-of-the-best, influenced millions (either directly or indirectly), legend bands, and this didn’t happen overnight. U2’s progress up the mega-superstar, giving-your-hat-to-the-pope ladder began in 1980 with the release of their impressive debut album Boy.

It seemed clear right from the off that U2 were going to be somebody. But it was with their third album War that the U2 sound really solidified. Those powerfully emotive songs, The Edge’s (David Evans) rhythmic echo and signature delay and Bono’s hot-lava-over-bare-rock vocals, that could – and frequently did – kick the whole world in the balls.

However, what made them the legends that they are today was the combination of two things: one very important event in modern pop culture history and a certain album release. The first was Live Aid in the summer of 1985, and Bono’s legendary performance, which included him pulling a young woman from the crowd just before she was crushed to death. His table-thumping charitable exuberance when asking people to call in and donate was exceeded only by the king of charitable rock stars, Bob Geldof. Rolling off the back of their high profile participation in this world-changing event, less than two years later, they released their magnum opus The Joshua Tree, and launched themselves into that oh-so select circle of bands that will forever be a part of our collective consciousness.

The Joshua Tree was, for many, the music that would forever represent the '80s. I was 16 when it was released, and to me, it will always take me back to smoking cloves on street corners, protesting apartheid and aid to the Contras, and fucking under the stars on warm summer nights, with the sounds of this seminal album blasting from the tinny car stereo. Released back when The Edge had hair and before Bono wore hats, The Joshua Tree really does represent their youth, my youth, many people’s youth, but does that mean it deserves its immortal renown? The answer to that question is, simply, yes.

Article Author: A.L. Harper

I'm a writer and music journalist originally from Salt Lake City, but now living in Scotland. I was a Punk/Goth in the '80s and these artistic influences have stayed with me; although a love of Chopin, chamber music, and Spanish guitar would seem to belie this. …

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